NATURAL MORAL LAW
CONCEPTS OF ABSOLUTISM AND LEGALISM
Absolutism: Absolutist theories of ethics state that one version of morality holds in all places, at all
times and for all people; it is universal.
Legalism: When it comes to morality, we should make our decisions based on previously established
laws. In reference to Christian theology, it refers to an approach which abides by biblical laws or
rules set down by a church.
A legalistic code of ethics is often an absolutist one, and Natural Moral Law is both legalistic and
absolutist.
EARLY DEVELOPMENTS
Aquinas is associated with Natural Moral Law theory due to his synthesis of the thought of Aristotle
with biblical teachings. He became a leading figure in the scholasticism movement, which looked to
prove that Christian theology and belief were rational, with the use of reason as a defining feature.
BIBLICAL AND CLASSICAL FOUNDATIONS
Aristotle’s two key concepts of telos and eudaimonia were utilised by Aquinas in order to develop
his Natural Moral Law. Telos means end or purpose, and Aristotle believed that for anything to exist,
it must have four causes: a material cause, a formal cause, an efficient cause and a final cause, and it
is the final cause which is the telos. Eudaimonia is Aristotle’s purpose of a human being, which
means good living or flourishing.
Aquinas was also influenced by Boethius and Augustine, and used Augustine’s argument that all
creation is good, and that evil is just a privation of good.
There are a number of biblical passages that support the idea of a moral law instilled by God in
nature:
‘For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine
nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people
are without excuse’ – Romans 1:20
St Paul describes how God made himself known through his creation of the world, and so people
have no excuse not to follow God’s will because it is evident all around them.
‘Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,
they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law’ – Romans 2:14-16
He describes how Gentiles know the law from God through their own hearts or conscience,
appealing to the belief that everyone knows the Natural Moral Law because God instilled it in
everyone.
CONCEPTS OF PURPOSE, TELOS, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PRECEPTS
